Gear Review: Fenix HL30 Headlamp -by Cameron Martindell, BACKPACKER

Publish Time：2013-11-11

Gear Review: Fenix HL30 Headlamp

-A bargain headlamp that's still powerful and durable.

by: Cameron Martindell

Fenix HL30 (Courtesy Photo)

At 4.4 lumens per dollar, this light gives you the most beam for
your buck. The HL30 is also the lightest headlamp we tested, and yet it
felt the most durable, thanks to the aircraft-grade aluminum components
(all the others use plastic). “The third, over-the-head strap ensured
the lamp stayed firmly in place, even during evening trail runs over
Utah slickrock,” reports one tester. $45; 4 oz.; IPX6; 2 AAs; 200 lumens.

More Tester Feedback:

Quinton Brown: Overall I think this light
is a great light. It’s easy to navigate through the settings, the
distance of the beam is solid, and my peripheral vision was good with
this light.

Nick Kozel:I didn’t really like the two-button setup, but
this light got the job done. The third over the head strap kept it
totally secure, which was great while trail running on some Utah
slickrock trails.

Bridger Kroenke:Robust and dependable, thanks to a solid
build and aircraft-grade aluminum. I got a little lost with the two
buttons to start with, but appreciated them once I got the hang of it.

Ben Morrissey:Great dim settings, so I didn’t blind my
friends. The red mode was a little faint for my liking, but that also
meant it did a great job of preserving my night vision.

Tim Schermerhorn:I liked the durability, but was not a
fan of the over-the-head strap. I just found it unnecessary for what I
was doing (mainly just camping).